Patagonia: Southbound

Detailed Trip Information

January 15 - February 1, 2021

Argentina & Chile

Patagonia, the bucket list tour for every off-road rider! You’ll explore the southernmost part of South America on almost half unpaved and sometimes challenging roads. Are you up for the adventure?

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You will be rewarded with the incredible views of the Andes Mountains, the turquoise water of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and the towering granite horn of the Torres del Paine National Park. Experience all that Patagonia has to offer! We'll take a boat ride along the Beagle Channel, the strait in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago at the southern tip of South America, a trip that most travelers dream of!

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The route is technically demanding and physically challenging. Most of the roads are narrow, steep, and unpaved! Riding in these conditions is fine, as long as you are prepared. This is a tour for experienced, dual sport riders thats enjoy the adventure of riding in a remote area!

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This tour is operated in partnership with PeruMotors.

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Highlights: City of Bariloche • Ruta 40 •  El Bolson •  Carretera Austral • Los Glaciares National Park • Torres del Paine National Park • Strait of Magellan • Tierra del Fuego • Fin del Mundo National Park • City of Ushuaia

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Schedule

The first day in this itinerary is your arrival in Temuco, Chile. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have one or two overnight flights. We highly recommend arranging to arrive a day or two early to avoid travel delays. When you return, you will depart from Puerto Natales (PNT) and arrive back home on the next day. Please note that dates may be subject to change.

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Friday, January 15, 2021

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Monday, January 18, 2021     

Tuesday, January 19, 2021         

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Thursday, January 21, 2021 

Friday, January 22, 2021

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Sunday, January 24, 2021     

Monday, January 25, 2021     

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021  

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Friday, January 29, 2021

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Monday, February 1, 2021

Arrival in Temuco

Temuco – Junin de los Andes, Argentina

 Junin de los Andes – Bariloche, Argentina

Bariloche – Esquel, Argentina

Esquel – Puyuhuapi, Chile

Puyuhuapi – Coyhaique, Chile

Coyhaique, Chile – Puerto Guadal, Chile

Puerto Guadal, Chile

Puerto Guadal – Gobernador Gregores, Argentina

Gobernador Gregores, Argentina – El Calafate, Argentina

El Calafate, Argentina

El Calafate – Cerro Sombrero, Chile

Cerro Sombrero, Chile – Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia – Porvenir, Chile

Porvenir, Chile – Puerto Natales, Chile

Puerto Natales, Chile 

Departure / Flight home

Price (per person)

Not Included in the Tour Price

Not included in the tour price are international or other airfare, beverages, water, alcohol drinks, motorcycle gear, personal items, passport, speeding tickets and other fines, laundry and dry cleaning, telephone calls, personal hotel room charges, medical and accident insurance, and transportation to and from the airport for early arrivals and late departures.

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Trip Extras

To ensure that you have the easiest travel experience possible, Blue Rim Tours offers select services for an additional fee. If you are interested in early/late lodging arrangements, please let us know.

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Deposit and Payment

A deposit of $2,000 per person is required to reserve your place on the tour. All deposits are non­-refundable and non-transferable. We accept personal checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and money orders. On October 23, 2020, 50% of the tour price is due. The remaining balance of the tour is due before or on November 13, 2020.

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Reservation Deadline

The deadline for registration is October 23, 2020.

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Cancellation Policy

If for any reason you need to cancel your trip and do so (in writing) between October 23 and November 13, 2020, you forfeit 50% of the total tour price. November 13, 2020, and after the total tour price is non-refundable.

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Flights

Depending on your flight schedule, you may have one or two overnight flights. Please contact us before confirming your flight reservation, so we can make sure that your flight itinerary lines up with the tour dates.

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Trip & Medical Insurance

It is highly recommended that you get trip insurance. Also, check with your health insurance provider about your coverage while traveling overseas. For additional information on trip cancellation insurance, visit www.insuremytrip.com.

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Early Arrival

It’s a good idea to arrive early in order to acclimate yourself to the area and avoid travel delays. Please let us know your arrival plans in advance, so that we can make arrangements accordingly.

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Arriving in Temuco, Chile 

You will fly into Araucanía Airport (ZCO) located at: Longitudinal Sur km 692, Freire, Región de la Araucanía, Chile. Your tour guide will pick you up from the airport when you arrive and take you to the first hotel, which is about 50 minutes away.

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Departing from Puerto Natales (PNT) or Puerto Arenas (PUQ) 

There are flights four times a week out of Puerto Natales, which is close to the hotel. If you fly out of Punta Arenas (PUQ), we will drop you off at the Puerto Natales bus station and you will take a bus directly to the Punta Arenas (PUQ) airport. The bus ride is about 2.5 hours and is included in your tour package. If you prefer to fly conveniently out of Puerto Natales, then you need to stay an additional day after the tour.

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Accommodations

The hotels are mostly family-owned, rustic establishments that reflect the local flavor of the area. Please note that since we'll be riding in remote locations, some of the hotel accommodations are minimal. If you bring any electronic devices, remember that South America has different voltage (220V) and electrical outlets, so make sure you have the right converters and plugs and that your electronic devices work on both voltages. Casual clothes for evenings are fine; there’s no need for formal wear.

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Group Size

The group will be between six and twelve riders and will be led by one guide and support vehicle.

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Rental Bikes

Please note that the motorcycles on this tour can be worn in and age fast due to the nature of the tour.

Available motorcycles may be subject to change.

• Honda CB500X

• BMW F 700 GS

• BMW F 800 GS

• BMW R 1200 GS

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Motorcycles are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, depending upon availability and are not guaranteed.  

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All motorcycles come with a 40 L topcase. No side cases are available.

The R 1200 GS is a good choice for two-up riding. If you do not have any experience with a model that you are considering, we suggest that you visit your local dealer to see which bike feels the most comfortable for you.

Keep in mind that a smaller motorcycle is more manageable on dirt and gravel roads.

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Motorcycle Insurance

A non-refundable VIP insurance to lower your deductible to $700 is included in your package. This insurance deductible will be held on your credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) at the time of picking up your motorcycle and is refunded upon inspection of the motorcycle for damages.

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In case of minor damage to your motorcycle, an appraisal of the repair cost is made, based on the dealer’s cost, and paid from your deductible. In case the cost of any damage to the motorcycle is higher than the deductible, or if the bike is stolen, the deductible is forfeited entirely. The insurance company will cover the remainder of the cost.

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Riding Equipment Recommendations

Proper riding gear (leather, GORE-TEX, Cordura) is essential to cope with the temperature changes due to altitude and weather conditions and to help protect you in case of an accident. Jeans (without Kevlar and armor) and chaps are not considered suitable riding gear. Bring your full-face helmet and riding boots, and don’t forget your raingear!

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Full-face helmet are not only the safest option, it’s also the most comfortable one protecting you from the weather, debris, and bugs. Three-quarter and full-face helmets with DOT, ECE, etc. certifications are considered suitable.

Pack your heated gear, too, and bring the right cables and connectors. It’s also a good idea to pack two pairs of gloves (a warmer and a lighter pair). 

See our packing list here and learn how to pack for two weeks on a motorcycle here.

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Luggage

The support vehicle will transport one bag per person. Please bring a waterproof duffel bag as your luggage, which will be transported by the chase vehicle. We suggest packing everything into this bag so that your belongings don’t get wet in the back of the pick up truck. You may also want to bring a small tail bag or backpack for personal items to mount to the motorcycle. If you bring a tankbag, make sure that it uses straps and not magnets, which won’t work on the plastic tanks.

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Internet Access and Phone Service

Some hotels on the tour offer Internet access free of charge, but some might charge a small fee. Also keep in mind that purchased Internet access for hot spots in South America only work in large cities and in areas that we will not be covering on our tour. Ask your cell phone provider about their international calling plan and data package options available for trips and traveling abroad. Many cell phone companies, as well as SPOT, now sell global phones, which are useful if you plan to regularly travel outside of the U.S. or Canada. Another option would be to purchase a pre-paid cell phone or SIM card for international calling or to use Skype, or Facetime which is the most cost-efficient option.

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Currency

The currencies on this tour are the Chilean and Argentinean Peso. It’s important to call your credit card company and let them know that you will be traveling in South America and when. You will need your credit card both to rent the bike and for the deposit. South America has switched from magnetic strips to chipped credit cards for increased security. Ask your bank or credit card company to find out if your card is chipped or if you have that option with your card. The cheapest and easiest way to get money is with a bankcard carrying a CIRRUS or MAESTRO symbol and for which you have a PIN (personal identification number). Please ask your bank if you have any questions.

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Credit cards are also useful for getting cash, again, provided you have a PIN. Paying for services, such as food and souvenirs, with a credit card is still rather uncommon in small and remote places so make sure you have enough cash as a primary way to pay. We recommend using the ATM to withdraw money; this generally gives a much better exchange rate than exchanging money at the airport. Traveler’s checks are outdated and hard to exchange.

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Cash is still the preferred and most accepted payment method in South America.

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Time Difference

There is no time difference between Eastern Standard Time and Argentina/Chile.

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Roads and Traffic

This tour is for experienced dual sport riders. Note, though riding an average of only 180 miles or 288 km per day may seem easy don’t be deceived. A good portion of this ride is on dirt and gravel roads. You must be comfortable riding off-road, in rough terrain and challenging road conditions, in traffic as well as on narrow and curvy mountain roads. 

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Tipping

In South America, tips are welcome but are not the standard 18-20% like they are in the U.S. In most places 5-10% is perfectly acceptable. Tipping the tour guides, however, is common. Based on your personal preference, $20-50 is usually what each person chips in, and $10-25 for the driver of the support vehicle/mechanic.

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Weather

Temperatures will range between 60 and 80 degrees F. and 15-27 Celsius. Patagonia is a windy place, though, so it can feel colder. It’s still a good idea to dress in layers so that you can easily adjust to changing weather conditions. Bring a heated jacket liner.

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Contact Information

Blue Rim Tours

3601 Edgemoor Court, Clemmons NC 27012

tours@bluerimtours.com

(336) 765-7780

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  Trip Details  

  Detailed Itinerary